Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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I fir: , ' M, IUFP f 7-rg. 5 bb 2 l Gfee Purely a case of mind over malrer. No one would ever call this work. DA B Y CR ET 9. . Seajln xook go pxejo east!! aevkheq V haal so W . SW Pavel eVer K kroffhtbdox prie 'I . S . g OME TIME AGO the newspapers reported that a shasnghaied mer- chant sailor was permitted his only liberty at Suda Bay, Crete. His captor knew that he would voluntarily return to his ship, which he did. It was, therefore, with somefmisgivings that the TARAWA learned that her next port-of-call was to be this large island south of Greece. The area was populated by about 300 hardy, strangely Mongoloid- featured inhabitants derivingatheir subsistence from the sea and the parched earth.. Recreational facilities were virtually non-existent. Iniview of the low libertyvpotential the Sixth Fleet held smokers on the beach, with a different ship each day acting as host by supplying the refreshments and the entertainment. Baseball games were in con- stant session in, all open areas up and down the coast and several aquatic- minded souls .attempted swimming in the cold water. Working parties were required each morning to cart away the moun- tains of empty beer cans, littered sandwich wrappers and boxing and entertainment programs scatterednknee deep upon the hillsides. Despite the thousands of men who went ashore and the havoc created by their trash-strewing presence, the entire- area was returned to the Cretans as neat as a pin. 'l i A few middle-Westerners attempted to prove their riding ability by mounting several stray-and decidedly reluctant-donkeys wandering too near the smoker area. With the Shore Patrol in hot pursuit these would-be equestrians were soon returned to terra firma none the worse for their experience. Goats fared better by serving as camera targets along with pup dogs, cactus and small boys. ' The only apparent means of transport appeared to be a few antiquated buses and taxis and the bicycle, all of which were used in local explora- tion. The inhabitants seemed accustomed to such invasions of their desolate domain and went about their affairs without comment other than an occasional smile at our antics.

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S+. Pei'er's, fhe archi+ec+ural masierpiece of Michelangelo, and +he world's larges+ church, is fhe hear? of Varican Ci'I'y. The church is loca+ed on 'Phe hill where legend says 'lhe Aposrle Peier was buried. Jusf beyond 'lhe righl margin of fhis picfure are +he chambers in which TARAWA sailors received audiences wi+h fhe Pope. Righ+: Brushing up on 'rheir Laiin +hese TARAWA men are iranslafing fhe inscripiion a+ fhe base of a s+a1'ue of lhe Aposrle Paul in fronl' of S+. Paul's oufside of Rome. The church was buill' around 'lhe 'lomb of +he Aposfle. Lower Righfz Helping l+aly reduce i+s dollar shorfage, and accumulaiing souvenirs, fhese Navy men and ofher members of The U. S. Sixlh Fleel' spenl' an es+ima+ed S2 million in Mediferranean counfries during rhe year l95l. The Wedding Cake is fhe nickname mosi modern Romans have given fhis conglomerafion of modern Halian arl, because when seen from a disiance if looks so much like fhe orna+e irimmings seen on lop of mosl' lralian cakes. Officially if is 'lhe Monumenf +o Vicfor Emanuel ll. I+ was in fhis square +ha+ Romans gafhered fo hear +he balcony speeches of Mussolini. ,-f ,W J,,-'ff' TARAWA sailors are sfanding in 'l'he galleries of fhe Colosseum from which ancienl' Romans cheered while gladia+ors foughi' in 'lhe pirs below. ll' was here during ihe iime of Nero fhai' many Chrisfians were mar+yred. rf

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Tarawa boxers won six oui' of nine ma+cl1es a+ +l1e smoker. Royal Hellenic CPO's aid in The selecfion of Music, we always hacl. Some fhings you couldn'+ keep from buying a gift Q, Safe, bu+ oh, +omorrow!